Chapter Thirty-Four: Would You Like to Receive One More Message?

The group lingered around the piano, chatting for a while before each prepared to head out. Chen Siyang tugged at Tang Zhichu’s sleeve, pulling her into the kitchen.

“Does your leg still hurt?” she asked.

Tang Zhichu hopped in place, smiling. “Soaking my feet really worked.”

Chen Siyang smiled with a touch of pride, then pointed to the soymilk maker. “Of course! There’s soymilk in there, and eggs too.”

“You ate already?”

“I did. I’ll head out now—the company car is here to pick me up.”

“Go on, good luck!”

Chen Siyang flashed a sweet smile and turned to leave, hardly taking two steps before Tang Zhichu called after her.

“Siyang!”

She turned back. “Yes?”

“You look great!”

Chen Siyang didn’t reply, instead making a funny face at Tang Zhichu, then walked away with a spring in her step, wearing the hat Tang Zhichu had given her last night.

When Tang Zhichu entered the living room carrying soymilk, most people had already left. Zhou Yun was just heading out and spotted Tang Zhichu.

“Do you want a ride?” she asked.

Tang Zhichu shook her head, raising the egg in her hand to indicate she was about to eat.

Zhou Yun nodded and went out.

While Tang Zhichu was tidying up in the kitchen, Jiang Lan appeared at the doorway.

“Hey, Lan, why haven’t you left yet?”

“I’ll drive you,” Jiang Lan said.

Tang Zhichu considered it, then nodded.

Zhou Yun had asked, “Do you want a ride?”—a question. Jiang Lan said, “I’ll drive you”—a statement. She probably had something to discuss.

After getting in the car, Jiang Lan asked, “Are we going to your shop?”

Tang Zhichu thought for a moment, then shook her head. “Take me to the hospital, please. I’ll send you the location.”

“The hospital?”

“A family member is hospitalized.”

“Alright.”

Jiang Lan didn’t press further, starting the car immediately. Once they had left the villa’s grounds, she asked again, “Is it serious?”

“It is. Is it on your way? Will it delay you?”

Tang Zhichu sent her location and dropped the topic of the hospital.

“No problem, I’ll take you first.”

The two fell silent.

After several minutes, Tang Zhichu noticed Jiang Lan had started to speak several times but always stopped herself. Finally, she smiled and asked, “Lan, what’s so hard to say?”

Jiang Lan glanced at Tang Zhichu and relaxed a little.

“That gummy candy of yours—I think it’s fantastic. I want to make something like it.”

“That’s it?” Tang Zhichu was puzzled. Surely, such a matter wasn’t difficult for Jiang Lan to bring up?

Business should be easy for her to discuss.

For some reason, Jiang Lan burst into laughter, chuckling heartily. When she calmed, she said, “Actually, there are two things. First, the gummy candy’s concept and angle are excellent—I really want to try it. Second... would you like to receive another text message?”

Tang Zhichu was momentarily at a loss.

“Just a simple message,” Jiang Lan emphasized.

Tang Zhichu turned to look out the window, then laughed, and Jiang Lan joined in. Soon, their laughter filled the car—absurd, yet with an air of mutual understanding.

Jiang Lan was a career woman. Why send a message to Huang Zejun? Because, at least by age, Huang Zejun seemed the most mature, and he’d only been interested in Chen Siyang at first.

Jiang Lan, enjoying the leisure, sent the message to Huang Zejun. Unexpectedly, the sixth elder suddenly paid attention to her—not only did he invite her out, but he sent the message back.

Jiang Lan shrank from it; if things kept going, wouldn’t it become more entangled? Sending messages was a required step; if not to Huang Zejun, then to whom? Yang Jiaxing? She feared another Huang Zejun situation.

After much thought, only Tang Zhichu remained—after all, he and Chen Siyang were stable.

At first, Jiang Lan hesitated, but before she acted, Zhou Yun did so. Jiang Lan thought, since things were already like this, what harm in one more?

Why tell Tang Zhichu? Jiang Lan felt he was the reliable type. If spoken openly, neither would feel pressured, nor would there be any misunderstanding.

Why did Jiang Lan laugh? Upon reflection, it was ridiculous, but also amusing.

Why did Tang Zhichu laugh? He too found it absurd and funny, and Jiang Lan was unexpectedly endearing, breaking free from his usual impression of her as a tough woman.

“Our Jun-ge really has no charm?” Tang Zhichu joked after a while.

Jiang Lan shook her head. “I tried.”

Her words meant she’d considered making fiction reality but hadn’t succeeded.

Tang Zhichu nodded, teasing, “Alright, a gentleman’s agreement—no crossing the line.”

Jiang Lan nodded in earnest. “A gentleman’s agreement. No crossing the line.”

When the car reached the hospital parking lot, Tang Zhichu got out, Jiang Lan following.

Tang Zhichu said they’d meet again in the evening and was about to head in when Jiang Lan called her back.

Jiang Lan opened the trunk and took out two gift bags—one with liquor, the other with ginseng.

“Some are from others, some are from me. I usually gift these, so I picked two decent ones. Consider it your reward for helping me—take them up.”

“This... is a bit much.”

“No fussing. Remember to bring back crayfish tonight.” Jiang Lan thrust the gifts into Tang Zhichu’s hands and got back in the car.

Tang Zhichu felt Jiang Lan thought her somewhat unschooled—coming to visit a relative in the hospital, shouldn’t you bring something? He wanted to explain, but held back; he couldn’t very well say it was his father, lest it seem overly sentimental.

Outside the ward, Tang Zhichu didn’t go in right away; judging by the noise, there were many people inside. He tried to listen for familiar voices, but couldn’t recognize any. He thought he’d have to play the introverted youth again.

He pushed open the door—good heavens.

A group of burly men crowded around Tang Maode’s bed.

At the sound of the door, they all turned.

Can you picture it? Seven or eight men—some muscular, some fat, all big, each looking fierce.

Tang Zhichu hesitated. “Uh... I think I’ve come to the wrong room. Please, carry on... carry on!”

He wondered if his father, who could just about be called a man of the “underworld,” might have some creditors here.

“Stop right there!” Tang Maode’s voice rang out.

Tang Zhichu had just turned to leave when he was called back.

“This is my son,” Tang Maode announced.

At that, the seven or eight men instantly broke into smiles.

“So it’s the godson—come, let godfather have a good look.”

“Don’t be afraid, we’re your dad’s close brothers. Back in the day, we set up night markets and conquered the world together. You may not recognize your uncles, but we met you when you were in junior high.”

“Don’t worry—I barely recognized you myself. So you’re little Tang, grown so tall now!”

The uncles were warm and hearty; as Tang Zhichu drew closer, they slapped his shoulder and pinched his cheeks.

After brief introductions, Tang Zhichu learned they were all in the restaurant business now.

The most successful had hotels; the least were on par with Tang Maode, and two ran hotpot places.

Tang Zhichu relaxed—they were strangers, but not ones he needed to tiptoe around.

“Uncle, your tattoo sleeves look pretty cool! If you put on sunglasses and hopped on a motorcycle, you’d be unstoppable!”

“Uncle, I’ve heard my dad talk about you—he says you’re the smartest of his brothers. Always saying if only you’d gone into business, you’d be rich by now.”

“Uncle, my dad says your barbecue skewers are the best in Yuzhou. Now you’re running hotpot? Incredible!”